Measuring cup



Aug. 9, 1949. w. w. JENNINGS MEASURING cur Filed D90. 16, 1946 SEMIsnubs olLs I (m PAPER cu?) a A 24 u n05 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATESF-PATENT OFFICE MEASURllfIG CUPWendell W. Jennings, San Francisco, Calif. Application December 16,1946, Serial No. 716,541

Claims. 1

This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, an improvedmeasuring cup for culinary use; the cup being designed for efiective usewith dry ingredients, semi-solids or oils, and liquids.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measuring cup which isfitted with a. movable bottom whereby to selectively vary the capacityof the cup relative to an included scale; the cup having a handle, andthere being a lever mechanism operative from the handle to cause suchmovement of the bottom to a selected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring cup adaptedto receive an initially separate, disposable insert cup therein for thepurpose of measuring certain ingredients, such as oils, semi-solids,etc.; both cups being transparent to facilitate the measuring operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, accurate,practical, and easy-to-use measuring cup, and one which will beexceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved measuring cup, with thebottom in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the measuring cup in a raisedposition to reduce the capacity of the cup to a selected extent.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the measuring cup.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the numeral I indicates a cylindrical cup, preferably of atransparent plastic, and fitted with a vertically movable bottom 2 ofsimilar material; such bottom 2 including a dependent annular skirt 3which guides said bottom for vertical sliding motion, with a close fit,in the cup I, whereby to selectively vary the capacity of the latter.

At its lower end the cylindrical cup I includes an annular stop 4 whichprevents escape of the bottom 2 from said cup.

On one side the cup I is fitted with a rigid, laterally outwardlyprojecting handle 5 which is fiat in a vertical plane, and which handleextends substantially from top to bottom of the cup. The handle 5includes a finger opening 6.

An actuating lever, a bellcrank type, indicated generally at I, isdisposed with one leg 8 upstanding alongside the handle 5, and with theother leg 9 projecting inwardly through a slot It in the adjacent sideof the cup I below the bottom 2. The bellcrank actuating lever 9 ispivoted, intermediate its ends, as at I I, to the handle 5 adjacent theslot I0.

Below the bottom 2 the leg 9 is formed with an ofifset, as at I2, sothat the inner end portion of said leg may extend diametrally of the cupthrough an opposed fulcrum opening I3 formed in the lower end of adepending lug I4 fixed centrally on the bottom 2. It will be seen thatupon swinging of the bellcrank actuating lever 'I, the leg 9 will causevertical motion of the bottom 2 in the cup I.

15,. At the upper end of the leg 8 it is fitted with a thumb pad I5, anda laterally extending finger I5, which ridesfrictionally-on the upperedge ll of the handle 5; such edge being arcuate and concentric to thepivot II. Along said arcuate upper edge I'I it is notched at spacedpoints, as at I8, and adjacent each notch I8 there is an indicia I9representing dry measurements. For

making dry measurements the user of the described measuring cup placesthe index finger through the opening 6 and the thumb on the pad I5,shifting the actuating lever I'l until the finger I6 drops into thenotch I8 corresponding to the desired measurement as evidenced by theindicia I9. When this is done the bottom 2 is shifted, vertically, to acorresponding position in the cup I. Thereafter when the cup is filled,above the adjusted bottom, it will hold an amount corresponding to theset position of the lever I. For measuring semi-solids, oils, or thelike, which might tend to gum the movable bottom 2, the latter is placedin its lowermost position, and the cup is used as follows:

An initially separate disposable cup 28, of wax paper or the like, isinserted in the cup I until the bottom of said cup 29 rests on thebottom 2. The disposable cup is transparent, as is the cup I, so thatthe ingredient to be measured may be placed in said disposable cup andread on a measuring scale 2| on the outside of cup I.

The initially separate, disposable cup 20 is formed of a size so that itprojects upwardly somewhat, as at 22, to compensate for its displacementin the cup I. Further, the sides of the cup I taper from top to bottom,as at 23; the advantage being ease of initial manufacture, nesting fortransport, and wedging of said cup 29 in the cup I in use so thatingredients may be poured from the device without displacement of saidcup 29.

Under certain conditions, as for use with liquids such as milk, water,etc., the device may be used as a conventional, fixed measuring cup, bylowering the bottom 2 to its lowermost position and reading the contentson a scale 24 on the cu I alongside the scale 2 I.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention as set forth herein.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful. and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A measuring cup comprising a cup having a laterally projectinghandle, a vertically movable bottom. slidably mounted tnthe clip, thecup being Provided with an opening in its side below the movable bottom.a bellcrank lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the handle forswinging in a vertical plane transversely of the cup, one leg. of thelever upstanding alongside the handle, the other leg. of. the leverprojecting, inwardly through said opening and being connected. to thebottom, and a finger pad on said. one leg a.ccessiblefrom the handle.

2-. A measuring cup comprising. a cup having a laterally projectinghandle. a vertically movable bottomslidably mounted in the cup. thecupsbeing provided with an opening in its side below the movable,bottom, a bellcrank. lever pivoted intermediate its. ends on the handlefor swinging in. a vertical plane transversely of the cup-,,. one legof. the lever upstanding, alongside the handle, thev other leg of thelever projecting inwardly through. said opening and connected to: the:

bottom, and a finger pad on said one leg. accessible from the: handle;said. one. leg having, a.

projecting element slidably but frictionally bearing against the.handle, there being spaced; elemen-t.- vreceiving; notches on the handlealong: the 45 2,159 43 4 path of said element, and measurement indiciaadjacent said notches.

3. A measuring cup comprising a cup having a laterally projectinghandle, a vertically movable bottom slidably mounted in the cup, the cupbeing provided with an opening in its side below the movable bottom, a,bellcrank lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the handle for swingingin a vertical plane transversely of the cup, one leg of the leverupstanding alongside the handle, the other leg of the lever projectinginwardly through said opening and being connected to the bottom, and afinger pad on said one leg accessible from the handle; the handle havingan arcuate upper edge concentric to the lever pivot, a laterallyprojecting finger on said one leg slidably but frictionally bearing onsaid edge, there being spaced finger receiving notches in said arcuateupper edge of the handle, and measurement indicia adjacent said notches.

4. A measuring cup as in claim 3 in which the handle has a fingeropening therethrough; the finger pad being on said one leg above suchfinger opening.

5. A measuring cup comprising a transparent cup with measuring indiciaon its side, a bottom slidably movable through said cup, the cup beingprovided with an opening in its side below the bottom, a beil cranklever pivoted adjacent the outside of the cup, one leg of the lever:extending. through said opening and being connected to the bottom, andthe other leg. of the lever extending along the outside of the cup.

WENDELL W. JENNINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,601 Aldrich Sept. 14, 1875775,326 Bishop Nov. 22, 1904 2,157,262 Jansen May 9; 1939- Dickeson May23 1939

